Western Gateway and GFirst LEP host stand at UKREiiF 2023

Chair of GFirst LEP, Ruth Dooley and economic development leads from across the county joined the Western Gateway team at UKREiiF 2023. 

UKREiiF brings together the public sector; regional combined authorities, local councils alongside Government, investors, funders, developers, housebuilders and more.

The Western Gateway hosted a pavilion at the event which included panel discussions demonstrating how the region is committed to becoming the UK’s first Green Energy Powerhouse improving connectivity and creating new opportunities to invest.

South Wales and Western England are a hotbed of innovation ready to add £34billion to the UK economy by 2030 and is ready to drive growth and power the UK’s transition to Net Zero. Innovative, world leading and sustainable, the Western Gateway aims to bring together business, universities and local leaders to work together across the border to build on the area’s potential to deliver for the rest of the UK. Gloucestershire featured strongly with poignant discussions held around the county's future growth and opportunities.

The stand was paid a visit by Lord Dominic Johnson, Minister for Investment. This gave us the opportunity to highlight the huge potential to develop a cyber supercluster in the Western Gateway area. In particular the Golden Valley Development project next door to GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre. Outlining to Lord Johnson that the cyber sector is making great strides in pockets across the Western Gateway area, but explained that it still needs significant government support to take off such as improving connectivity and the infrastructure to leverage serious inward investment.

The event was well attended and provided great exposure for the Western Gateway and its regional partners.